Copper, why not lead?

[NC field hunter]

Now that copper has been added here, I have been thinking about the use of metals. Most of my finds are from an old copper mine that flooded at the start of the depression. (how ironic) my grandad was able to get the land for a pretty good price, and it remains in the family. I have noticed where one mineral or metal is found, it is not a surprise to find others. I have seen gold, silver, lead, iron, and copper on our farm. Why is it that copper is the only stand out metal for native American artifacts? Why not lead? Lead is fairly common and cheap.

 

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[SOHIO]

Well i seen on something or read ...just the other day in fact that the indians liked copper so much simply because it was gold and shiny

 

[SOHIO]

oh it was a show about pocahontas

 

[NC field hunter]

oh it was a show about pocahontas

I think I saw that one!

 

[Tnmountains]

Well i seen on something or read ...just the other day in fact that the indians liked copper so much simply because it was gold and shiney.

I think you are right though about the color and maybe the strength. They also liked gold and we know their value of a good bullseye flint or chert. Metal was a pretty new product to them and a growing technology...... then we showed up.

 

[NC field hunter]

I think you are right though about the color and maybe the strength. They also liked gold and we know their value of a good bullseye flint or chert. Metal was a pretty new product to them and a growing technology...... then we showed up.

That's what I mean. If white man had copper, he had to have had led as well. I saw one led pendant on the net. I don't suppose they would have learned of lead poisoning yet. Since electricity wasn't invented at the time, copper may have been less valuable to white man than led. For sure you wouldn't hand your enemy material to build deadly weapons either. Got my answer. I should be sleeping, instead, I'm in bed thinking copper and lead. What tha?

 

[The Grim Reaper]

What you have to realize is the Indians were making use of Copper way before the white man came to America.

 

[Jon Stewart]

While metal detecting a known wagon route out west I found small amounts of lead and zinc. I had thoughts, actually hoping, that the zinc was silver but I had it tested and it is zinc. I wondered what they used zinc for and if it was used by Indians or not.

 

[larson1951]

copper makes a good sharp awl and lead would not
also copper makes good points, but lead would not, to soft and to heavy
copper can be used for making a bell or a bangle for a jingle dress, i don't think lead would work for that
not trying to shoot you down rusty just a few things i think make sense

 

[rock]

Well I have read some place that here in Ga they did use lead that they found if it was big enough to carve out and use as stone bowls. Now of course that is in the raw and not processed.

 

[NC field hunter]

copper makes a good sharp awl and lead would not
also copper makes good points, but lead would not, to soft and to heavy
copper can be used for making a bell or a bangle for a jingle dress, i don't think lead would work for that
not trying to shoot you down rusty just a few things i think make sense

I know you aren't trying to shoot me down. I appreciate your input. The addition of copper here made me think of all of the metal on the periodic table. I just thought if they knew of copper, They would have known about lead and iron. Gold and silver are a rarer find.